Boiler washing and filling system.



Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

IQQ

\UHHHIIJHHTIIIIIKHIIIIHIIIIMHHUIIIII lllll 1 1?. W. MILLER. BOILER WASHING AND FILLING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.30, 1911.

THE AORRIS PETERS PHnTC-LITHUJ, WASHINGTON, D c.

ream: w. MILLER, or CHIC G iIQLINoIsQ assiaiv on or ONE-HALF o CLARENCE i).

saunas; or 'oHif'oAGo ILLrnoIs.

TOaZZYwhOm it may concern a J Beit knownthat I, FRANK WV. MrLLuIga' citizen'of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of'Gook andStateYof Illinoi's ha-ve invented, certain new and useg .i'fulimprovements i Boiler Washing and Filling Systems, of which the following 1 23 l Specification. v

j This invention relates toybo iler washing,

andfilling systems adapted for utilizing the blow-off contents'of locomotive boilers for heating clean freshwater for refillingpur -poses and hag beendevised with certain objects and advantages in view. aiming to in;

crease the-efiiciency of systems of thischare acter and to decrease the attentionf and manual manipulation required in operating the'same. q v a One of the objects of the present system is toprovideqwater ata suitable temperature for washout purposesflso thatno tempering needbedone by the washers-out at the drops and with this end in view'ithe invention comprises automatic devices which ma ntain the temperature :of the, washout water :in a reservoir between f certain predetermined limits. m a c Another object of the invention'is the'pro vision of mechanism for, automatically opening the bottomof the scale pocket at predetermined intervals to permit the discharge of; its contents. The pocket is thereby,

usefulness. 1

( Anotherobject of the invention the pro- 1 vision in a system of this character of a feed water heater in which the water tolbe used? for refilling locomotive boilers andalso to be supplied to the power boilersis heated to a predetermined temperature byth'e exhaust steam from thefpower boilers and, re

quired, by the admission of live steam. I

- Still another object is to condense the surplus bl'ow-off steam which rises from thefilling water heater and thewashout reservoir and to convey this waterjof condensationto the feedwater heater so that this water of condensation and alsothe heat units of the surplus steam are conserved. I a

Other objects and advantagesof in;' vention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art as the invention becomes better =un-f S pecification of iiettersi P atentl BoiLnR wts m am rinmivs SYSTEM.

by reference to the following de-' st'ruction .which comprises inner heads 6 I (one only of which is shown) spaced from (the ends of the heater, the compartments outside these heads being connected by pipes j or flues--7 throughvwhich the blow' ofl" steam other boiler through the from one end of the heater to the other and :nected with alpipe 12 which conveys the exhaust steam fromv the pumps to the connection Where itis mingled with the blow- {through the heater 5 with said contents. LA check valve l3 is'interposed in the pipe '12 .to prevent the blow-off steam from pass- {ingback to the pumps-in, case the pressure inithe blow-01f line exceeds that intheexihaust pipe from a the pumps. The lower branch of the connection 'lllis connectedby {a pipe '14 with a scale'pocket '15 of usual ed;tofreceivethescale and other-solid matter blown off fromtheboiler with the steam and water. "A'hand Valve 16 is located in of boiler 'may be blown :off through the sired, without passing .through the heater 5. This valve may be also temporarily closed to cause the discharge ofthe blow-off products through the scale pocket for the purpose of effectively cleaning the same.

Since the scale, sediment and other solid matter blownoif from theboilers accumulatesjquiterapidly in the scalepocket it is gop'ening the lower end'of the scale pocket permitting the contents to be discharged therefrom: Inusual practice; however, the

engineer or the operator in charge of the p p p Patented Sept. 1, 1914. Application filed October 30, 1911; Serial No. 657,492. i

andwatenblown offqfr'o'm a locomotive or,

blow-off line 8 pass Zofi contents of. the-boiler and carried scale pocket 15 directly. to the sewer, if de,--

inece'ssaryto clean' the pocket at frequent intervals and her'etofore this cleaning has vbeenhdone by-hand, usually by manually jplant often forgets to clean the scalepocket' back again before being discharged from jth'e," heater through the dischargepipe 9.

Asbranch connection 11 isfllocated' invthe iblou -oii line, the upper branch being cdnconstruction, said scale pocket-beingadapt- "the blow-off line v8 between the, connection 11 and theheater'o,,so?:that all the contents and as a result the pocket becomesfull to overflowing so that its usefulness is entirely destroyed and, furthermore, the scale and.

sediment become hardened and incrus'ted upon the walls of the pocket so that it-is only with great diiliculty that the solid matter is all cleaned out. In my present invention I aim to obviate any possibility of excessive accumulation of scaleand other solid matter in the scale pocket by automatically opening the lower end of the scale pocket at predetermined intervals so that all of the contents thereof will be discharged di-" rectly to'the sewer, the discharge being fa cilitated by the blow-oft steama'n'dj Water under pressure in the blow-oil" line and in the pocket. One form of mechanism for accomplishing this result is illustrated in therdrawingsl and comprises as shown a valve 17 located in the pipe 18' leading from the" scale pocket to thesewer pipe 19,-this valve being normally held in closed position by a spring 21. connected 'at'ron'e end with any suitable stationary pin orsupport and at its other end with an armature 22 connected by a link 23 with an arm or lever mounted on the turningvalve stem of the valve 17; An electi-o-magnet 25 is mounted adjacent the armature so that when said magnet is energized the armature will be: attracted thereby actuating the lever 2-11; and

opening the valve '17 to permit the discharge The electro magnet is connected by suitable wires 26" of the scale pocket contents.

with a clock controlled circuit breaker 2 7 of any preferred constructiom th'e circuit breaker being adapted at predetermined in tervals to close the circuitand energize the electro-magnet; .The circuit is automatically broken after'b'eing completed for a predetermined period" sufiicient to permit the thorough cleaning of the scale pocket,

whereupon the valve 17 is automatically closed and lQIHitlIlS inclosed position until the next energization of the magnet, It will'be obvious that by means of. this [construction the scale pocket is intermittently and automatically cleaned out without re delivered from the heater through the pipe 9 will fiow by gravity to the reservoir.'

predetermined water level is maintained in the reservoir by a'branch supply pipe 27 connected through the main 28 with the city water pressure or any other suitable source of water supply, the delivery of water through said branch to the reservoir beingcontrolled by a float valve '29 eon-g the pipes :38and 29 to the sewer.

nectedwith afloat 31 which operates in a float chamber 32 connected with but located outside there'servoir. A coil 33 is arranged in the reservoir 26, the upper end of the coil being connected with the pipe 9 so that discharged from o blow-off contents heater 5 may be circulated through this coil to heat the water contained in the reservoir.

A check valve 3a is interposed in the coil to'prevent reverse flow and check valves 35 ilocated in lateral branches 36 ofthe coil are -"provided to permita portion of-the blow-oft products circulating through the coil to bedischarged directly into the resa vervoir and mingled with the water therein. In order to maintain a predetermined'level ofwater in the coil an upright pipe 37 is connected with the end of the coil, the upper end of this pipe communicating through a pipe 38 with a discharge pipe 39 leading directly to the sewer pipe 19. The pipe/3S also serves as an overflow pipe for the reservoir 26, the inner end of this pipe beingupturned as indicated at 4:1 so that when the water in the reservoir reaches the upper end ofthis pipe it will overliow'through the p A check valve 38" prevents reverse flow through the pipe 38. In order that the coil 33 may be cleaned outat any time a pipe 42 connects the lower end of the coil wi h the sewer pipe-19, a hand valve a3 being interposed in the pipe 4&2 to normally close this pipe 'SOKtllitt the contents of the coil will be normally discharged through the pipe 38;

- The water contained iii-the reservoir 26 ,1S intended to be used for washing out loco- HIOtIVQ boilers after they have been blownofli and, since the washers-outcan notliandle the washout nozzles the water is too hot andsi-iice the battle plates will be injured if the Water is toocold, it is necessary that the washout waterbe delivered to the washout nozzles at a predetermined temperature which isin' actual practice as hot'as the washers-outcan handle. Prior to my pres ent invention it has been customary to temper thewashout water either at the drops in the roundhouse or in the discharge pipe leading from the washout p'ui'n'p. In either case, however, the temperature of the water fluctuated more or lessby reason ofthe fact that the temperature -of the"water in the washout reservoir varied, depending upon the number of engines which had been or were being-blown oil at the time of the washing out operation. lily-present invention aims to eliminate the tempering of the washout water outside the WtISllQtlt reservoir and, with this end in view, I have provided certain" regulating devices which maintain the temperature of the water in thereservoir between predetermined limits. For the pur- :pose ofpreventing the Water in the reservoir from fallingbelow a predetermined tem-.

reservoir and is hav ng pertoratl'rm s steam 1s permittedto perature aable source of live steam supply enters the provided With branches through" hich the escape into the Water contained in the reservoirb A; thermostat valve 46 is disposed'in th'epipe44 and is controlled from-a thermostatylfi proecting -the coil 38 and, if

I the'lcoil, it will be ture of thewater washout purposes unless it Water from the pipe 27.

ture the valve tfiis admitsufiicient live into the reservoir, VVhen' Water in t ervoir falls beloy'v a predetermined tempera automatically opened to steam to raise the Water to a predetermined temperature, whereupon I a the valve 46 'is closed. The washout Water in the reservoirfis primarily heated, hoW- ever, by thebloW-oif products delivered to the blow-otf products are permitted to becontinually introduced into obvious that the te pera intthe reservoir may be? come too hotfor 1s beingcons'tantly used and replaced cold I In order to divert the coil when the the bloW-ofi contents from v I have ro-' washout wat'erqis hot enough vided a thermostaticallycontrolledvalve 48 located in the branchpipe 4L9 connecting the v dlsc'h'arge rpipeflivith the discharge pipe 89.

A thermostat '50 arranged inside the reservoir26 controls the valve t8 and, When the Water in the reservoir rises to a predeter:

mined temperature, thefvalve48v is opened thereby permittingthe, blow-off contents conveyed from theheater 5 bythe pipe 9 to be discharged through the pipes 49 and'39 to the sewer. l/Vhen the temperature ofthe Water in the reservoir again loWersfthe valve l8 is automatically closed and the, bloW-ofi' products are again,deliveredfto the coil 33 I i power boilers notpnly -0ficontents of the locomotive boiler and I .Qhave, therefore, v bined affeed Waterheater with there,

to' heat the Water to a suitabletemperature for washout purposes: The washout ,1 ater is dravvn fromflthe reservoirbya pump 51' through an intake pip 52 and is discharged through the delivery pipe 531ntothe Wash;

out line 54: by which it. is conveyed to the drops in the roundhouse. j ,jIn practice it is customaryftoflocate the \vashout and refilling plants adjacent the machineshops and the power plantstherefor, and the exhaust steam-from the various 1 engines and pumps of'the power plant is customarily conveyed tov a feed Water heater for heating Water to "be supplied to the power boilers My present invention contemplates heating the Water to be shpp'liedtOLthe from the power plant but also by the blowin my present system comfilling Water heaterand WashoutQWater reservoir previously described so thata most eflicient'and economical system is produced.-

Anyfpreferred type offeed Water "heater may beeniployedm this 'systefnbut Ihfave 'r pipe 44 connected With any suit through. the branchj58 from the main 28' ie res- "63 projecting into the interior of the heater.

-refilling 'heaterlavherein the ivate tionally heated by refilling purposes 67' or to the power boilers in thepower plant through the pipe 68. Suitable valves 69 and7l are located in the pipes 67 and 68,

respectively, sothat the flow of Water in both [directions can be regulated or controlled at fwill. rInorder that thejwater to be used for prefilling the jthe poiver'boilers,may be heated" to a uniform temperature'by the blow-off products vide'd a return or circulating pipe 72,0011 heater, so that circulation Will o pipes 65, 665 heater 5,: pipe 68- and pipe 72. i A hand valve 731is so that r the r amount of .Water 1 circulate can be regulated;

,which is not condensed in the heater 5 and beneaththe battle by the exhaust stealn' 7 som un cat s.

; surplusv steam ;to'the condenserH wherein it I 7 8 to the feed tvaterheater.

posits end of the'heater jfr'o having a dome or upper chamber 56 equipped \vithfplates' 57 arranged in staggered relation over qwhich water supplied flows and is' heated bymingling Withftlie exhaust steam from the power plant co'nveyed to the'feed Water heater by the pipe 59. A'predetermined level of Water is main; tained in'the feed Water heater bya float 60 located inthefloatchaniber 62 connecting With the interior of the-heater; which float,- by suitable connections, controls afloat valve 63 disposed in the Water supply branch .58 ater'in the feedwater heater ismaintained at a predetermined temperature by the ad mission of live a steam through a. pipeGl equipped with 'a theri'nostatically controlled valve" which is governed by a'thermostat TheWater which has been heated in the feed Water heater istvithdra wn therefrom by the pump 64: through an intake pipe':.65 and is v delivered through a pipe ,66'to the refilling r Waterheater around'the tubes 7.' From the r is ad'di l the blowsoff' products passing througlrthe tubes 7' the Water is conveyed to the drops in the'roundhouse for through the refilling line locomotives and for supplying passing through 'theheater 5 I have pronecting the boiler line 68 With the feed Water I be continually maintained by he pump 64 through the disposedin the pipe 72 permitted to In order to utilize the bloiv ofi steam an steam not condensed ,invthe reservoir 26, I have provided a plurality of condensers 7 4 and 75 respectively; Thecondenser 74 com munica'tes with the interior'of the heater 5 plateTS througha pipe 7 anda' branch pipe'78 leading from the pipe with the interior of the t lt will be evident that any I inftheheater 5 beneath the baflieplate 76 -and in the reservoir-'26 Willrise I ill be condensed and returned -through the pipe line The condenser 'Z5;jis connected with th hea :er 5" atthejopa, the pipeW by I30 reservoir 26.

BQ with a hand valveconnects the compartment means of a, pipe 7 9, A blow-ottvalveSl is blow-off steam and water of a boiler to said interposed in the pipe'T E) which opensonly reservoir, and thermostatically controlled when the pressure in" the heater rises above means for preventing said blowpfi steam a" predetermined amount. The water of and water from entering sail reservoir when 5'. cendensation delivered 'bythe pipe 78 from the Water intheres ervoir is above a prede- 70 the-eondensers-T and 75 is mingled in the termined temperature. V I feed water heater wi h the water contained 2'. In a boiler was ing and filling system, therein and is subsequentlyreturned to the the combination of a reservoir, a coil in, locomotive boilers or to the power boilers ranged in said reservoir, means whereby 10. from the heater It will thus be obvious said coil may be connected with a locomotive 5 that all the surplus steam in the 'heater5 and boiler to permitthe blow-off steam and wain the reservoir; QGis'utiliZed, that portion ter of saidboiler to be delivered to the coil, meansfor supplying water to said reservoir,

which; is not .condensedin heating the re: a filling water in the beaten?) or the washout and means for chvert ngthe blow-0E steam and water of abo ler froinsaid coil when 3 water in the reservoir 26 being condensed by the condensersW and 7 5 d'return d the water in the reservoir reaches a predeto the feed water heater. 1 1' termine'd temperature. v a V In "order that the pressure in the; feed I a boiler washingiand filling system, Watgplhggtep p t i ab VQ; @g if ty the combination of a fillingwater heater, a 2 0 point I have provided a blowfoff pi 32 blow-off line connectedtherewith to deliver 5 H provided with a back pressure valve. 83 l w-O l Steam n l eter t "saldheater, a

through which excessive pressure is per- & plp un tlng sald filllng Wamitted to escape -tothe atmosphere- Pipes tor heaterwrch the reservoir for delivering 8a and S5. equipped with suitable hand Sald b S and W t from e valves connectthe endcompartments ofthe he -t feselvoll} 1 3 f pplyi g 9O heater 5 with the discharge ,pipe 39 through WW 8 reservollyand it fil f S i pipe line 86. These pipes are provided for 1 l y Q l 'Q Valve 9 Pe m in t cleaning out the end compartments of the 9 -0 Q f a le v l ver T 1 1 heater. when desired. A pipeSY- equipped clfi g W t h a r, to be 'C sdl u'gcd 17 outside sald reservoir when the water in the 1 reservoir reaches afpredetermined tempera turef a around the tubes? with the pipe "SG so that this compartment may also be cleanedout I a I v r p when occasion requires and branch pipes 88 1 l 3$h1 gF fi y m, and 89' likewise equipped with hand valves 9 i' 9 0f e'rQServo-H adapted to 13 areconnected with thebottom of the resn n l P wa u purposes, 51 loll 0 I ervoir through which the contents of said a ng lsi l l liege/TV??? t Y reservoir may berdischarged to the, sewer w fi DE 'FSQf 3 f h g and the reservoir may be cleaned when deva lt S 1 n 9; QP of 831d -v i bl A a ;otl' c ontents ;,to be discharged into the res- [5 9i The blow-0E, washoutrand refilling lines Q YQ J 1 320 1" OrmInaintaining'aIp reflet l i. u are arranged in the roundhouse in the usual -l" Wa r l el reservoir, and manner and are provided with 3 suitable 9 3 f p nt g l Contenfi drops preferably disposed between the eni f g S l 91 n e v'a er 1n gine pits and equipped with valves and con i th? lil l fi h & p edeternnned tem 3 nections so that they ;can"loe readily ,con-i p a a a nected to the locomotive boilers positioned l 11' aboiler Wfi m and filhng Sy over the pits. I have not deemed itneceslfi combmatwn of i Q 11119, a Scale sary in the present ins tance to illustrate the P Q Q iconneclfid 'thierlewltha a filling Water, pipe lines in the roundhouse as the arrangeh e il'flapted'to recelvo blow-otl'steam and 50 ment and connections may follow any-well, t v from 1 l fi 11119, a reservoir; 115 k o or efe d d i imeans for conducting blow-0E steam and a It is believedthat the invention, its mode g et l i h a hro gh said reser; of operation and many of its attendant ad; 1 von means for} supplying water to said resvantage's "will be understood fir onrtlie fore ervO11,meaI1S controlled by the temperature 15.; going without further description and-it will i of the water in'Sa-id reservoir for diverting 12o beobviousthat various changes in thel,c'on

thelolow-oflf'fsteam and water from' said struction 'and arrangement of the various heate l' dire otly to a, sewer, m n normally parts may be resorted to. withoutdeparting closing the'bottom of said scale pocket, and a from the spirit [of the invention or sacrificautomatically and intermittently a ctuated; QO ing any of the material advantages thereof. ,I claim 2. j' a I pocket at predetermined intervals;

1.; In a boiler washing and filling system, 1 the combination of a reservoir, means: for maintaining a predetermined level of water '66 in said reservoinnwans for, conducting the 6. Ina boiler washing and filling'system, the combinatio-nof a filling water heater, a

blow-0d line connected therewith, a scale communicating with said blow-off 130 1means ,for opening'the bottomot-said scale reservoir and said filling water heater for conducting the blow-off steam and water delivered to said heater by the blow-0E line from said heater to the reservoir, and means for diverting said blow-ofi steam and water from the reservoir when the washing water in the reservoir reaches a predetermined temperature.

7. In a boiler washing and filling system, the combination of a filling water heater, a washout reservoir, 2. blow-oi? line connected with said heater, a scale pocket communicating with said blow ofi' line to. receive scale and sludge from the blow oil products, a valve normally closing the lowerend of said scale pocket, automatic means for intermittently opening said valve at predetermined intervals and retaining said valve in open position for a predetermined period, and means for automatically closing said valve at the end of each ofsaid periods.

8. A boiler washing and filling system coniprising'a fillingwater heater, a blowoff line connected therewith, a feed water heater, means for maintaining a predetermined level of water in said feedwater heater, means for condensing the steam rising uncondensed from the filling water heater, a pipe for conveying the water of condensation to the feed water heater, means for conveying'water from said feed water heater to the fillingwater heater, and a refilling line for conducting said water at refilling water to a locomotive boiler.

9. In a boilerwashing and filling system, the combination of a filling water heater, a condenser connected therewith for condensing the steam rising from said heater, a feed water heater, a pipe for conveying'the water of condensation from said condenser to sa1d feed water heater, means for maintaining a predetermined level of water in said feed water heater, means for admitting live steam to heat said water when the temperature falls below a predetermined point, means for conducting water from said feed ivater heater to. said filling waterheater, a blow-ofl line for conveying the blow-01f products of a boiler to said filling water heater to heat the water contained therein, and a-refilling line for conveying said heated water to a boiler for refilling purposes.

10. In a boiler washing and filling system, the combination of a refilling water heater, a washout reservoir, a feed water heater, means for conveying the heat of the blow-oft contents of a boiler to the water in the refilling heater and the water in the washout reservoir, means for condensing the steam Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the rising from said filling water heater and .from said washout reservoir, a pipe for conducting the water of condensation 'to the feed water heater, means for conducting water from the feed water heater through the filling water heater to a boiler for refilling purposes, and means for conducting water from said washout reservoir to a boiler for washout purposes. I

' 11. In a boiler washing and filling system, the combination ofa washout reservoir, a feed water heater, means for maintaining a predetermined water level in said reservoir and heater, means for heating the water i in the reservoir fromthe blow-off contents of a boiler, means for condensing and de-. livering to the-feed water-heater the steam rising uncondensed from said reservoir, means for automatically heatingthe water in said reservoir and in said feed-water heater to predetermined temperatures, means for conveying water-from said feed water heater to a boiler for refilling purposes, and meansfor conveying water from said reser voirto a boiler'for washout purposes.

12. In a boiler washing and filling system, the combination of a filling water heater, means for delivering the blow-ofi' contents of a boiler to said heater,

water heater, means for conducting water from said feed water heater to the filling water heater, means for conveying heat of theblow-ofl contents of a boiler to the water in said filling water heater, and a return pipe connecting said filling water heater and feed water heater to maintain a circulation through said heaters. p

'18. In a boiler washing and filling system, the combination of a filling. water heater, a reservoir for washout water, a blow-ofi line, a scale pocket connected therewith, means for automatically opening the scale pocket at predetermined intervals same to be cleaned, a coil arranged in said reservoir, connections between said coil and the blow -0H line whereby the blow-ofi contents of a boiler may be conveyed to said coil, means for automatically regulating the I to permit the a feed water heater, .means for heating the water in said feed admission of said blow-oft contents to the coil, a feed water heater, means for condensing the steam r1s1ng from said reservoir and said filling water heater, means for convey ing the water of condensation to said feed water heater, means for delivering water from said feed water heater to the filling ater heater, a refilling line connected with said filling water heater, and a washout line connected with sald reservoir.

7 FRANK W. MILLER.

Witnesses:

' IRA J. WILSON, M. A. Knmm.

Washington, D. C. 

